WiFi network operation with channel aggregation

ABSTRACT

An access point generates respective first data units for transmission in respective frequency segments, each first data unit including a respective beacon frame having an indication that the access point is operating in multiple frequency segments, and each beacon frame including a respective MAC address utilized by the access point for operation in the respective frequency segment. The access point transmits the respective first data units having the respective beacon frames in respective primary channels of the respective frequency segments to permit client stations to discover the access point in any of the respective primary channels. In response to receiving from a first client station a probe request frame in one of the frequency segments, the access point transmits a probe response frame in the one frequency segment, the probe response frame including, for each frequency segment, respective operation information indicating respective operation parameters for the respective frequency segment.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/877,354, entitled “WiFi Network Operation with Channel Aggregation,”filed on May 18, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/849,043, entitled “Basic Service Set (BSS)Operation with Band Aggregation—Capabilities and Basic Service Set (BSS)Operation,” filed on May 16, 2019, and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/877,207, entitled “Basic Service Set (BSS) Operationwith Band Aggregation—Capabilities and Basic Service Set (BSS)Operation,” filed on Jul. 22, 2019. All of the applications referencedabove are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communicationsystems, and more particularly to operation of a network with multipleaggregated communication channels.

BACKGROUND

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have evolved rapidly over the pasttwo decades, and development of WLAN standards such as the Institute forElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 Standard family hasimproved single-user peak data rates. One way in which data rates havebeen increased is by increasing the frequency bandwidth of communicationchannels used in WLANs. For example, the IEEE 802.11n Standard permitsaggregation of two 20 MHz sub-channels to form a 40 MHz aggregatecommunication channel, whereas the more recent IEEE 802.11ax Standardpermits aggregation of up to eight 20 MHz sub-channels to form up to 160MHz aggregate communication channels. Work has now begun on a newiteration of the IEEE 802.11 Standard, which is referred to as the IEEE802.11be Standard, or Extremely High Throughput (EHT) WLAN. The IEEE802.11be Standard may permit aggregation of as many as sixteen 20 MHzsub-channels (or perhaps even more) to form up to 320 MHz aggregatecommunication channels (or perhaps even wider aggregate communicationchannels). Additionally, the IEEE 802.11be Standard may permitaggregation 20 MHz sub-channels in different channel segments (forexample, separated by a gap in frequency) to form a single aggregatechannel. Further, the IEEE 802.11be Standard may permit aggregation of20 MHz sub-channels in different radio frequency (RF) bands to form asingle aggregate channel.

The current draft of the IEEE 802.11ax Standard (referred to herein as“the IEEE 802.11ax Standard” for simplicity) defines an “80+80”transmission mode in which a communication device simultaneouslytransmits in two 80 MHz channel segments within a single radio frequency(RF) band. The two 80 MHz channel segments may be separated in frequencywithin the single RF band. Network parameters, such as media accesscontrol (MAC) address of a communication device, capabilities of devicesoperating in (or wishing to join) the network, operating parameters usedin the network, etc., are defined to be the same across the two 80 MHzchannel segments.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a method of operation in a wireless local area network(WLAN) includes: generating, at a wireless network interface of anaccess point, respective first data units for transmission in respectiveprimary channels of respective frequency segments, each first data unitincluding a respective beacon frame having an indication that the accesspoint is operating in multiple frequency segments, and each beacon frameincluding a respective MAC address utilized by the access point foroperation in the respective frequency segment; transmitting, by thewireless network interface, the respective first data units having therespective beacon frames in the respective primary channels of therespective frequency segments to permit client stations to discover theaccess point in any of the respective primary channels; and in responseto receiving from a first client station a probe request frame in one ofthe frequency segments, transmitting, by the wireless network interface,a probe response frame in the one frequency segment, the probe responseframe including, for each frequency segment, respective operationinformation indicating respective operation parameters for therespective frequency segment.

In another embodiment, a communication device comprises a wirelessnetwork interface device corresponding to an access point. The wirelessnetwork device comprises one or more integrated circuit (IC) devicesconfigured to: generate respective first data units for transmission inrespective primary channels of respective frequency segments, each firstdata unit including a respective beacon frame having an indication thatthe access point is operating in multiple frequency segments, and eachbeacon frame including a respective MAC address utilized by the accesspoint for operation in the respective frequency segment; control thewireless network interface to transmit the respective first data unitshaving the respective beacon frames in the respective primary channelsof the respective frequency segments to permit client stations todiscover the access point in any of the respective primary channels; andcontrol the wireless network interface to transmit, in response to thewireless network device receiving from a first client station a proberequest frame in one of the frequency segments, a probe response framein the one frequency segment, the probe response frame including, foreach frequency segment, respective operation information indicatingrespective operation parameters for the respective frequency segment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example wireless local area network(WLAN), according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example physical layer (PHY) data unittransmitted in the WLAN of FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example transmission over multiple channelsegments of a communication channel in the WLAN of FIG. 1 , according toan embodiment;

FIGS. 4A-B are diagrams of example medium access control (MAC) protocoldata units (MPDU) that may be included in the transmission of FIG. 3 ,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example communication channel used forcommunication in the WLAN of FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a portion of a management frame generatedand transmitted by a communication device in a particular channelsegment to broadcast information in the WLAN of FIG. 1 , according to anembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a portion of a management frame generated andtransmitted by a communication device in a particular channel segment toprovide information to another communication device in the WLAN of FIG.1 , according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example network interface device configuredfor multi-channel segment operation, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an example method for operation of a firstcommunication device in a communication channel between the firstcommunication device and one or more second communication devices,according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A next generation wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol (e.g., theIEEE 802.11be Standard, sometimes referred to as the Extremely HighThroughput (EHT) WLAN Standard) may permit communication devices tooperate with communication channels that comprise multiple channelsegments. The different channel segments may be in a single radiofrequency (RF) band or in different RF bands. The different channelsegments may have a same bandwidth or different bandwidths. In variousembodiments described below, at least some network parameters used by acommunication device for operation in the multiple channel segments aredifferent in different ones of the channel segments. For example,different media access control (MAC) addresses are utilized by acommunication device for operation in different ones of the channelsegments. Using different MAC addresses in different ones of the channelsegments allows legacy communication devices that do not supportoperation with multiple channel segment aggregation to discover andassociate with an access point in any ones of the multiple channelsegments based on transmissions (e.g., beacon frame transmissions) ofthe access point with different MAC addresses of the AP in differentones of the multiple channel segments, in an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example wireless local area network(WLAN) 110, according to an embodiment. The WLAN 110 includes an accesspoint (AP) 114 that comprises a host processor 118 coupled to a networkinterface device 122. The network interface device 122 includes one ormore medium access control (MAC) processors 126 (sometimes referred toherein as “the MAC processor 126” for brevity) and one or more physicallayer (PHY) processors 130 (sometimes referred to herein as “the PHYprocessor 130” for brevity). The PHY processor 130 includes a pluralityof transceivers 134, and the transceivers 134 are coupled to a pluralityof antennas 138. Although three transceivers 134 and three antennas 138are illustrated in FIG. 1 , the AP 114 includes other suitable numbers(e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.) of transceivers 134 and antennas 138 in otherembodiments. In some embodiments, the AP 114 includes a higher number ofantennas 138 than transceivers 134, and antenna switching techniques areutilized.

The network interface device 122 is implemented using one or moreintegrated circuits (ICs) configured to operate as discussed below. Forexample, the MAC processor 126 may be implemented, at least partially,on a first IC, and the PHY processor 130 may be implemented, at leastpartially, on a second IC. As another example, at least a portion of theMAC processor 126 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 130 may beimplemented on a single IC. For instance, the network interface device122 may be implemented using a system on a chip (SoC), where the SoCincludes at least a portion of the MAC processor 126 and at least aportion of the PHY processor 130.

In an embodiment, the host processor 118 includes a processor configuredto execute machine readable instructions stored in a memory device (notshown) such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), aflash memory, etc. In an embodiment, the host processor 118 may beimplemented, at least partially, on a first IC, and the network device122 may be implemented, at least partially, on a second IC. As anotherexample, the host processor 118 and at least a portion of the networkinterface device 122 may be implemented on a single IC.

In various embodiments, the MAC processor 126 and/or the PHY processor130 of the AP 114 are configured to generate data units, and processreceived data units, that conform to a WLAN communication protocol suchas a communication protocol conforming to the IEEE 802.11 Standard oranother suitable wireless communication protocol. For example, the MACprocessor 126 may be configured to implement MAC layer functions,including MAC layer functions of the WLAN communication protocol, andthe PHY processor 130 may be configured to implement PHY functions,including PHY functions of the WLAN communication protocol. Forinstance, the MAC processor 126 may be configured to generate MAC layerdata units such as MAC service data units (MSDUs), MAC protocol dataunits (MPDUs), aggregate MPDUs (A-MPDUs), etc., and provide the MAClayer data units to the PHY processor 130. MPDUs and A-MPDUs exchangedbetween the MAC processor 126 and the PHY processor 130 are sometimesreferred to as physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) (or simply“PHY”) service data units (PSDUs).

The PHY processor 130 may be configured to receive MAC layer data units(or PSDUs) from the MAC processor 126 and encapsulate the MAC layer dataunits (or PSDUs) to generate PHY data units such as PLCP (or “PHY”)protocol data units (PPDUs) for transmission via the antennas 138.Similarly, the PHY processor 130 may be configured to receive PHY dataunits that were received via the antennas 138, and extract MAC layerdata units encapsulated within the PHY data units. The PHY processor 130may provide the extracted MAC layer data units to the MAC processor 126,which processes the MAC layer data units.

PHY data units are sometimes referred to herein as “packets”, and MAClayer data units are sometimes referred to herein as “frames”.

In connection with generating one or more radio frequency (RF) signalsfor transmission, the PHY processor 130 is configured to process (whichmay include modulating, filtering, etc.) data corresponding to a PPDU togenerate one or more digital baseband signals and convert the digitalbaseband signal(s) to one or more analog baseband signals, according toan embodiment. Additionally, the PHY processor 130 is configured toupconvert the one or more analog baseband signals to one or more RFsignals for transmission via the one or more antennas 138.

In connection with receiving one or more signals RF signals, the PHYprocessor 130 is configured to downconvert the one or more RF signals toone or more analog baseband signals, and to convert the one or moreanalog baseband signals to one or more digital baseband signals. The PHYprocessor 130 is further configured to process (which may includedemodulating, filtering, etc.) the one or more digital baseband signalsto generate a PPDU.

The PHY processor 130 includes amplifiers (e.g., a low noise amplifier(LNA), a power amplifier, etc.), a radio frequency (RF) downconverter,an RF upconverter, a plurality of filters, one or more analog-to-digitalconverters (ADCs), one or more digital-to-analog converters (DACs), oneor more discrete Fourier transform (DFT) calculators (e.g., a fastFourier transform (FFT) calculator), one or more inverse discreteFourier transform (IDFT) calculators (e.g., an inverse fast Fouriertransform (IFFT) calculator), one or more modulators, one or moredemodulators, etc.

The PHY processor 130 is configured to generate one or more RF signalsthat are provided to the one or more antennas 138. The PHY processor 130is also configured to receive one or more RF signals from the one ormore antennas 138.

The MAC processor 126 is configured to control the PHY processor 130 togenerate one or more RF signals by, for example, providing one or moreMAC layer data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the PHY processor 130, andoptionally providing one or more control signals to the PHY processor130, according to some embodiments. In an embodiment, the MAC processor126 includes a processor configured to execute machine readableinstructions stored in a memory device (not shown) such as a RAM, a readROM, a flash memory, etc. In another embodiment, the MAC processor 126includes a hardware state machine.

The MAC processor 126 includes, or implements, a multi-segment MAC dataunit generator 142 that is configured to generate respective MAC dataunits for transmission in respective channel segments of a communicationchannel, according to an embodiment. The multi-segment MAC data unitgenerator 142 is configured to generate the respective MAC data units toinclude respective MAC addresses that the AP 114 utilizes forcommunication in respective ones of the channel segments, in anembodiment. In an embodiment, the AP 114 utilizes different MACaddresses for communicating in different ones of the channel segmentsand, accordingly, the multi-segment MAC data unit generator 142 isconfigured to generate the respective MAC data units to include thedifferent MAC addresses. The multi-segment MAC data unit generator 142is configured to provide the respective MAC data units that include therespective MAC addresses of the AP 114 to the PHY processor 130 forsimultaneous transmission in the multiple channel segments of thecommunication channel, in an embodiment.

In an embodiment, the multi-segment MAC data unit generator 142 isimplemented by a processor executing machine readable instructionsstored in a memory, where the machine readable instructions cause theprocessor to perform acts described in more detail below. In anotherembodiment, the multi-segment MAC data unit generator 142 additionallyor alternatively comprises hardware circuity that is configured toperform acts described in more detail below. In some embodiments, thehardware circuitry comprises one or more hardware state machines thatare configured to perform acts described in more detail below.

The WLAN 110 includes a plurality of client stations 154. Although threeclient stations 154 are illustrated in FIG. 1 , the WLAN 110 includesother suitable numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, etc.) of client stations154 in various embodiments. The client station 154-1 includes a hostprocessor 158 coupled to a network interface device 162. The networkinterface device 162 includes one or more MAC processors 166 (sometimesreferred to herein as “the MAC processor 166” for brevity) and one ormore PHY processors 170 (sometimes referred to herein as “the PHYprocessor 170” for brevity). The PHY processor 170 includes a pluralityof transceivers 174, and the transceivers 174 are coupled to a pluralityof antennas 178. Although three transceivers 174 and three antennas 178are illustrated in FIG. 1 , the client station 154-1 includes othersuitable numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.) of transceivers 174 andantennas 178 in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the clientstation 154-1 includes a higher number of antennas 178 than transceivers174, and antenna switching techniques are utilized.

The network interface device 162 is implemented using one or more ICsconfigured to operate as discussed below. For example, the MAC processor166 may be implemented on at least a first IC, and the PHY processor 170may be implemented on at least a second IC. As another example, at leasta portion of the MAC processor 166 and at least a portion of the PHYprocessor 170 may be implemented on a single IC. For instance, thenetwork interface device 162 may be implemented using an SoC, where theSoC includes at least a portion of the MAC processor 166 and at least aportion of the PHY processor 170.

In an embodiment, the host processor 158 includes a processor configuredto execute machine readable instructions stored in a memory device (notshown) such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, etc. In an embodiment, thehost processor 158 may be implemented, at least partially, on a firstIC, and the network device 162 may be implemented, at least partially,on a second IC. As another example, the host processor 158 and at leasta portion of the network interface device 162 may be implemented on asingle IC.

In various embodiments, the MAC processor 166 and the PHY processor 170of the client device 154-1 are configured to generate data units, andprocess received data units, that conform to the WLAN communicationprotocol or another suitable communication protocol. For example, theMAC processor 166 may be configured to implement MAC layer functions,including MAC layer functions of the WLAN communication protocol, andthe PHY processor 170 may be configured to implement PHY functions,including PHY functions of the WLAN communication protocol. The MACprocessor 166 may be configured to generate MAC layer data units such asMSDUs, MPDUs, etc., and provide the MAC layer data units to the PHYprocessor 170. The PHY processor 170 may be configured to receive MAClayer data units from the MAC processor 166 and encapsulate the MAClayer data units to generate PHY data units such as PPDUs fortransmission via the antennas 178. Similarly, the PHY processor 170 maybe configured to receive PHY data units that were received via theantennas 178, and extract MAC layer data units encapsulated within thePHY data units. The PHY processor 170 may provide the extracted MAClayer data units to the MAC processor 166, which processes the MAC layerdata units.

The PHY processor 170 is configured to downconvert one or more RFsignals received via the one or more antennas 178 to one or morebaseband analog signals and convert the analog baseband signal(s) to oneor more digital baseband signals, according to an embodiment. The PHYprocessor 170 is further configured to process the one or more digitalbaseband signals to demodulate the one or more digital baseband signalsand to generate a PPDU. The PHY processor 170 includes amplifiers (e.g.,an LNA, a power amplifier, etc.), an RF downconverter, an RFupconverter, a plurality of filters, one or more ADCs, one or more DACs,one or more DFT calculators (e.g., an FFT calculator), one or more IDFTcalculators (e.g., an IFFT calculator), one or more modulators, one ormore demodulators, etc.

The PHY processor 170 is configured to generate one or more RF signalsthat are provided to the one or more antennas 178. The PHY processor 170is also configured to receive one or more RF signals from the one ormore antennas 178.

The MAC processor 166 is configured to control the PHY processor 170 togenerate one or more RF signals by, for example, providing one or moreMAC layer data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the PHY processor 170, andoptionally providing one or more control signals to the PHY processor170, according to some embodiments. In an embodiment, the MAC processor166 includes a processor configured to execute machine readableinstructions stored in a memory device (not shown) such as a RAM, a ROM,a flash memory, etc. In an embodiment, the MAC processor 166 includes ahardware state machine.

In some embodiments, the MAC processor 166 includes a multi-channelsegment transmission controller (not shown) the same as or similar tothe multi-segment MAC data unit generator 142 of the AP 114. Forexample, the client station 154-1 is configured to generate MAC dataunits that include different MAC addresses used by the client station154-1 for communication in respective ones of multiple channel segmentsof a communication channel, according to some embodiments.

In an embodiment, each of the client stations 154-2 and 154-3 has astructure that is the same as or similar to the client station 154-1.Each of the client stations 154-2 and 154-3 has the same or a differentnumber of transceivers and antennas. For example, the client station154-2 and/or the client station 154-3 each have only two transceiversand two antennas (not shown), according to an embodiment.

In an embodiment, multiple different frequency bands within the RFspectrum are employed for signal transmissions within the WLAN 110. Inan embodiment, different communication devices (i.e., the AP 114 and theclient stations 154) may be configured for operation in differentfrequency bands. In an embodiment, at least some communication devices(e.g., the AP 114 and the client station 154) in the WLAN 110 may beconfigured for simultaneous operation over multiple different frequencybands. Exemplary frequency bands include, a first frequency bandcorresponding to a frequency range of approximately 2.4 GHz-2.5 GHz(“2.4 GHz band”), and a second frequency band corresponding to afrequency range of approximately 5 GHz-5.9 GHz (“5 GHz band”) of the RFspectrum. In an embodiment, one or more communication devices within theWLAN may also be configured for operation in a third frequency band inthe 6 GHz-7 GHz range (“6 GHz band”). Each of the frequency bandscomprise multiple component channels which may be combined within therespective frequency bands to generate channels of wider bandwidths, asdescribed above. In an embodiment corresponding to multi-channel segmentoperation over a first channel segment and a second channel segment, thefirst channel segment and the second channel segment may be in separatefrequency bands, or within a same frequency band. In some embodiments,at least one communication device (e.g., at least the AP 114) in theWLAN 110 is configured for simultaneous operation over any two of the2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band, and the 6 GHz band. In some embodiments,at least one communication device (e.g., at least the AP 114) in theWLAN 110 is configured for simultaneous operation over all three of the2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band, and the 6 GHz band.

Although the WLAN 110 is illustrated as including only a single AP 114,the WLAN 110 includes multiple coordinated APs, in some embodiments. Themultiple coordinated APs are configured to operate in a distributedmanner, where respective ones of the multiple APs are configured tooperate in respective ones of multiple channel segments. In suchembodiments, respective ones of the multiple coordinated APs areconfigured to generate and transmit respective MAC data units asdescribed herein in a communication channel that comprises multiplechannel segments, where respective ones of the multiple coordinated APsgenerate and transmit respective ones of the multiple MAC data units inthe respective channel segments.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example PPDU 200, according to an embodiment.In an embodiment, the AP 114 (FIG. 1 ) is configured to (e.g., thenetwork interface device 122 is configured to, the PHY processor 130 isconfigured to, the multi-channel transmit processor 146 is configuredto, etc.) generate and transmit the PPDU 200 to one or more clientstations 154. In an embodiment, the network device 122 (FIG. 1 ) isconfigured to (e.g., the network interface device 122 is configured to,the PHY processor 130 is configured to, the multi-channel transmitprocessor 146 is configured to, etc.) generate multiple PPDUs such asthe PPDU 200, and to simultaneously transmit the multiple PPDUs inrespective ones of multiple channel segments to one or more clientstations 154. In another embodiment, a client station 154 (FIG. 1 ) isconfigured to (e.g., the client station 154-1 is configured to, thenetwork interface device 162 is configured to, the PHY processor 170 isconfigured to, etc.) generate and transmit one or more PPDUs such as thePPDU 200, and to simultaneously transmit the one or more PPDUs inrespective ones of one or more channel segments to the AP 114.

The PPDU 200 includes a PHY preamble 210 which, in turn, includes alegacy PHY preamble portion 212 (sometimes referred to as a legacypreamble 212), a non-legacy PHY preamble portion (e.g., an EHT preamble)216 (sometime referred to as a EHT preamble 216), and a PHY data portion220. The legacy preamble 212 comprises a legacy short training field(L-STF) 224, a legacy long training field (L-LTF) 228, and a legacysignal field (L-SIG) 232. In an embodiment, the STFs 224 and the LTFs228 are used for packet detection, automatic gain control (AGC),frequency offset estimation, channel estimation, etc. The L-SIG 232includes a rate subfield (not shown) and a length subfield (not shown)that together indicate a duration of the PPDU 200. The EHT preamble 216includes one or more EHT signal fields 230, an EHT STF field 232 and oneor more EHT LTF fields 234. The one or more EHT signal fields 230include PHY parameters regarding the PPDU 200 that are for use byreceiver devices to properly process the PPDU 200, such as a bandwidthsubfield that indicates a frequency bandwidth of the PHY data portion240 PPDU 200 of the PPDU 200, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS)subfield that indicates an MCS used for the PHY data portion 240 of thePPDU 200, a number of spatial/space-time streams (Nss) subfield thatindicates a Nss used for transmission of the PHY data portion 240 PPDU200 of the PPDU 200, etc., in an embodiment. In an embodiment, thenumber of the EHT LTF fields 234 correspond to a number ofspatial/space-time streams used for transmission of the PPDU 200.

In an embodiment, the PPDU 200 is a multi-user (MU) orthogonal frequencydivision multiple access (OFDMA) data unit in which independent datastreams are transmitted to multiple client stations 154 using respectivesets of OFDM tones allocated to the client stations 154. For example, inan embodiment, available OFDM tones (e.g., OFDM tones that are not usedas DC tone and/or guard tones) are segmented into multiple resourceunits (RUs), and each of the multiple RUs is allocated to data to one ormore client stations 154. In an embodiment, the independent data streamsin respective allocated RUs are further transmitted using respectivespatial streams, allocated to the client stations 154, usingmultiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques. In an embodiment, thePPDU 200 is an MU-MIMO PHY data unit in which independent data streamsare transmitted to multiple client stations 154 using respective spatialstreams allocated to the client stations 154.

In an embodiment, the PPDU 200 has a 20 MHz frequency bandwidth and istransmitted in a 20 MHz channel. In other embodiments, the PPDU 200 mayhave a frequency bandwidth of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 100 MHz, 120 MHz, etc.,and is correspondingly transmitted over a 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 100 MHz, 120MHz, etc., channel, respectively. In some such embodiments, at least aportion of the PPDU 200 (e.g., at least the PHY preamble 212, or theentirety of the PHY preamble 210) is generated by generating a fieldcorresponding to a 20 MHz component channel bandwidth and repeating thefield over a number of 20 MHz component channels corresponding to thetransmission channel, so that the PPDU 200 includes a same legacypreamble 212 in each 20 MHz component channels that comprise thetransmission channel, in an embodiment. For example, in an embodiment inwhich the PPDU 200 occupies an 80 MHz channel, at least the legacypreamble 212 corresponding to the 20 MHz component channel bandwidth isreplicated in each of four 20 MHz component channels that comprise the80 MHz channel, so that the PPDU 200 includes a same legacy preamble 212in each of the four 20 MHz component channels that comprise the 80 MHzchannel.

In an embodiment, the PHY data portion 240 includes one or more MPDUsgenerated by a network interface device (e.g., generated by the networkinterface device 122/162, generated by the MAC processor 126/166,generated by the multi-segment MAC data unit generator 142, etc.). In anembodiment in which multiple PHY data portions 240 are generated forsimultaneous transmission over respective ones of multiple channelsegments, respective PHY data portions 240 include respective MPDUsgenerated by the network interface device for simultaneous transmissionover respective ones of the multiple channel segments.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example transmission 300 over multiple channelsegments of a communication channel, according to an embodiment. In anembodiment, the AP 114 (FIG. 1 ) is configured to (e.g., the networkinterface device 122 is configured to, the PHY processor 130 isconfigured to, the multi-channel transmit processor 146 is configuredto, etc.) generate and transmit the transmission 300 to one or moreclient stations 154. In another embodiment, a client station 154 (FIG. 1) is configured to (e.g., the client station 154-1 is configured to, thenetwork interface device 162 is configured to, the PHY processor 170 isconfigured to, etc.) generate and transmit the transmission 300 to theAP 114 and/or one or more other client stations 154).

The transmission 300 comprises a PPDU 304 in a first channel segment 308and a second PPDU 312 in a second channel segment 316. The first PPDU504 comprises a PHY preamble 320 and a PHY data portion 324. The secondPPDU 312 comprises a PHY preamble 328, a data portion 332, and optionalpadding 336. In an embodiment, the PHY preamble 320 and the PHY preamble328 are formatted in a manner similar to the PHY preamble 210 of FIG. 2. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the PHY preamble 320 and atleast a portion of the PHY preamble 328 have the same structure and/orinclude the same information. In an embodiment, at least a portion ofthe PHY preamble 320 and at least a portion of the PHY preamble 328 areidentical.

In an embodiment, transmission of the first PPDU 304 of the transmission300 is simultaneous with the transmission of the second PPDU 312 of thetransmission 300. In an embodiment, the transmission 300 is synchronizedsuch that transmission of the first PPDU 304 and the second PPDU 312starts at a same time instance t₁ and ends at a same time instance t₃.In an embodiment, the transmission 300 is further synchronized such thePHY preamble 320 and the PHY preamble 328 are of a same duration. In anembodiment in which the PHY data portion 332 has a shorter duration thanthe PHY data portion 324, the PHY data portion 332 is appended with thepadding 336 so that transmission of the PPDU 312 ends at t₃. In otherembodiments, the transmission 300 is asynchronous. For example,transmission of the first PPDU 302 does not start at a same timeinstance as transmission of the second PPDU 312 and/or transmission ofthe first PPDU 302 does not end at a same time instance as transmissionof the second PPDU 312, in an embodiment.

In an embodiment in which the first channel segment 308 comprisesmultiple component channels, at least a portion of the PHY preamble 320(e.g., a legacy portion) is generated by generating a fieldcorresponding to one component channel and duplicating the field overone or more other component channels corresponding to the first channelsegment 308. In an embodiment in which the second channel segment 316comprises multiple component channels, at least a portion of the PHYpreamble 328 (e.g., a legacy portion) is generated by generating a fieldcorresponding to one component channel and duplicating the field overone or more other component channels corresponding to the second channelsegment 316.

In various embodiments, the first channel segment 308 and the secondchannel segment 316 are in different RF bands or are co-located in asame RF band. In an embodiment, the RF band(s) correspond to the 2.4 GHzband, the 5 GHz band, and the 6 GHz bands, as described above. The firstchannel segment 308 and the second channel segment 316 may each becomprised of one or more of component channels. In an embodiment, afrequency bandwidth of the first channel segment 308 (i.e., a frequencybandwidth of the first PPDU 304) is different than a frequency bandwidthof the second channel segment 316 (i.e., a frequency bandwidth of thesecond PPDU 312). In another embodiment, the frequency bandwidth of thefirst channel segment 308 is the same as the frequency bandwidth of thesecond channel segment 316.

In an embodiment, the first channel segment 308 and the second channelsegment 316 are separated in frequency. For example, a gap in frequencyexists between the first channel segment 308 and the second channelsegment 316. In various embodiments, the gap is at least 500 kHz, atleast 1 MHz, at least 5 MHz, at least 20 MHz, etc.

In an embodiment, the transmission 300 corresponds to a single user (SU)transmission that is generated and transmitted to a single communicationdevice. In an embodiment, the transmission 300 corresponds to amulti-user (MU) transmission that includes data for multiplecommunication devices (e.g., the client stations 154). For example, inan embodiment, the MU transmission 300 is an OFDMA transmission. Inanother embodiment, the MU transmission 300 is an MU-MIMO transmission.In an embodiment, one of the first PPDU 304 and the second PPDU 312corresponds to an SU transmission, and the other one of the first PPDU304 and second PPDU 312 corresponds to an MU transmission, such as anOFDMA or an MU-MIMO transmission. For example, a MAC data unit (e.g.,MPDU, A-MPDU, etc.) included in the PHY data portion 324 of the firstPPDU 304 includes multiple data streams for multiple communication formultiple communication devices (e.g., the client stations 154).

In an embodiment, the transmission 300 corresponds to a single PPDU,where a first frequency portion of the single PPDU is transmitted viathe first channel 308 and a second frequency portion of the single PPDUis transmitted via the second channel 316. In another embodiment, thefirst PPDU 304 corresponds to a first PPDU and the second PPDU 312corresponds to a second PPDU. In an embodiment, each of the PHYpreambles 320 and 328, and the PHY data portions 324 and 332, arecomprised of one or more OFDM symbols.

In some embodiments, in a simultaneous transmission in multiple channelsegments, MAC headers of MPDUs simultaneously transmitted in themultiple channel segments include different information specific to theparticular channel segments. For example, a communication device (e.g.,the AP 114, the client station 154-1, etc.) utilizes different MACaddresses for operation in different ones of the channel segments, in anembodiment. Thus, for example, a source MAC address of the communicationdevice indicated in a MAC header of an MPDU generated and transmitted bythe communication device depends on the channel segment in which theMPDU is transmitted, in an embodiment. In an embodiment in which acommunication device (e.g., the AP 114, the client station 154-1, etc.)utilizes different MAC addresses for operation in different ones of thechannel segments, one of the different MAC addresses is used as the MACaddress of the communication device by an upper layer (e.g., a layerimplemented by the host processor 118, 158) that communicates with theMAC processor (e.g., the MAC processor 126, 166) of the communicationdevice.

FIGS. 4A-B are diagrams of MPDUs 400, 450 that may be included,respectively, in the PHY data portion 324 of the transmission 303 ofFIG. 3 and the data portion 332 of the transmission 312 of FIG. 3 ,according to an embodiment. The MPDU 400 includes a MAC header 402, aframe body 418, and a frame check sequence field 420. The number beloweach field in FIG. 4A indicates the number of octets occupied by thecorresponding field of the MPDU 400, according to an embodiment. Inother embodiments, other suitable numbers of octets (or bits) areoccupied by the fields of the MDPU 400. The MAC header 402 includes aframe control field 404 (2 octets), a duration/ID field 406 (2 octets),a first address (A1) field 410-1 (6 octets), a second address (A2) field410-2 (6 octets), a third address (A3) field (6 octets) 410-3, asequence control field 412 (2 octets), a fourth address (A4) field 410-4(6 octets), a QoS control field 414 (2 octets), and an HT control field416 (4 octets), in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 . The sequencecontrol field 412 includes a fragment number subfield 424 and a sequencenumber subfield 426. The HT control field 416 includes a trafficidentifier (TID) subfield 428.

In some embodiments, the MAC header 402 omits one or more of the fields404-416 illustrated in FIG. 4 and/or includes one or more additionalfields not illustrated in FIG. 4 . The data unit 400 also includes theframe body 418 and a four-octet frame check sequence (FCS) field 420. Insome embodiments and/or scenarios, the frame body 418 is omitted (e.g.,a null data frame). Each of the address fields 410 is a 48 bit (6 octet)field that includes a MAC address or other identifier of a device or anetwork associated with the data unit 400, such as a MAC address of atransmitter device of the data unit 400, a MAC addresses of an intendedreceiver device of the data unit 400, an identifier of a basic serviceset (BSS) in which the data unit 400 is transmitted, etc. In anembodiment, the first address field 410-1 includes a source MAC addressassociated with a transmitter device of the data unit 400, the secondaddress field 410-1 includes a receiver MAC address of an intendedreceiver device of the data unit 400, the third address field 410-3includes a BSSID in which the data unit 400 is transmitted, and thefourth address field 410-4 is omitted, in an embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 4B, the MPDU 450 included in the data portion 332of the transmission 312 of FIG. 3 is generally the same as to the MPDU400 included in the data portion 324 of the transmission 303 of FIG. 3 ,in an embodiment. The MPDU 450 includes a MAC header 452, a frame body468, and a frame check sequence field 470. The number above each fieldin FIG. 4B indicates the number of octets occupied by the correspondingfield. Accordingly, the MAC header 402 includes a frame control field404 (2 octets), a duration/ID field 406 (2 octets), a first address (A1)field 410-1 (6 octets), a second address (A2) field 410-2 (6 octets), athird address (A3) field (6 octets) 410-3, a sequence control field 412(2 octets), a fourth address (A4) field 410-4 (6 octets), a QoS controlfield 414 (2 octets), and an HT control field 416 (4 octets). In someembodiments, the MAC header 402 omits one or more of the fields 404-416illustrated in FIG. 4 and/or includes one or more additional fields notillustrated in FIG. 4 . The data unit 400 also includes the frame body418 and a four-octet frame check sequence (FCS) field 420. In someembodiments and/or scenarios, the frame body 418 is omitted (e.g., anull data frame). Each of the address fields 410 is a 48 bit (6 octet)field that includes a MAC address or other identifier of a device or anetwork associated with the data unit 400, such as a MAC address of atransmitter device of the data unit 400, a MAC addresses of an intendedreceiver device of the data unit 400, an identifier of a basic serviceset (BSS) in which the data unit 400 is transmitted, etc. In anembodiment, the first address field 410-1 includes a source MAC addressassociated with a transmitter device of the data unit 400, the secondaddress field 410-1 includes a receiver MAC address of an intendedreceiver device of the data unit 400, the third address field 410-3includes a BSSID in which the data unit 400 is transmitted, and thefourth address field 410-4 is omitted, in an embodiment

In some embodiments, values of one or more of the address fields 410 ofthe data unit 400 depend on the particular channel segment, of acommunication channel, in which the data unit 400 is transmitted. Forexample, in an embodiment in which a transmitter device that generatesand transmits the data unit 400 utilizes different MAC addresses foroperation in different channel segments of a communication channel, asource MAC address included in the header 402 (e.g., included in thefirst MAC address field 410-1) of the data unit 400 corresponds to theparticular MAC address that the transmitter device utilizes foroperation in the particular channel segment in which the data unit 400is transmitted, in an embodiment. As another example, in an embodimentin which a receiver device that is an intended receiver of the data unit400 utilizes different MAC addresses for operation in different channelsegments of a communication channel, a receiver MAC address included inthe header 402 (e.g., included in the second MAC address field 410-2) ofthe data unit 400 corresponds to the particular MAC address that thereceiver device utilizes for operation in the particular channel segmentin which the data unit 400 is transmitted, in an embodiment.

In an embodiment, the TID subfield 428, 478 is set to indicate a trafficID, or an access class (AC), associated with, respectively, the MDPU400, 450. The sequence number subfield 426, 476 is set to indicate asequence number assigned to respectively, the MDPU 400, 450. In anembodiment, sequence numbers are assigned to MPDUs to identify MSDUs foracknowledgement and, if necessary, retransmission of MPDUs, as well asfor properly ordering MPDUs at the receiver devices. In an embodiment,the transmitter device maintains In an embodiment, the communicationdevice that transmits the MPDU 400, 450 maintains respective counterscorresponding to different TIDs, and increments the respective countersto assign sequential numbers to the MPDUs associated with the TIDs. Inan embodiment, the communication device assigns consecutive numbers toconsecutive MPDUs associated with a particular TID even when the MPDUsare to be transmitted in different channel segments. Accordingly, in anembodiment, in an embodiment in which the MPDU 400 and the MPDU 450 areassociated with a same TID, the sequence number subfields 426, 476 ofthe MPDU 400, 450 are set to consecutive sequence numbers assigned tothe MPDU 400, 450 even though the MPDUs 400 and 450 are transmitted indeferent channel segments of a communication channel, in an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example communication channel 500 used forcommunication in the WLAN 110, according to an embodiment. In anembodiment, the communication channel 500 corresponds to an operatingchannel of the AP 114, or of a basic service set (BSS) supported by theAP 114. In another embodiment, the communication channel 500 correspondsto an operating channel of a client station 154 (e.g., the clientstation 154-1). In other embodiments, the communication channel 500 isemployed by a communication device (e.g., an AP or a client station) ina suitable communication network different from the WLAN 110. Anoperating channel such as the communication channel 500 that correspondsto an operating channel of an AP or a BSS supported by the AP issometimes referred to herein as an “AP operating channel” or a “B SSoperating channel.” An operating channel such as the communicationchannel 500 that corresponds to an operating channel of a client stationis sometimes referred to herein as an “STA operating channel.”

The communication channel 500 includes a first channel segment 504aggregated with a second channel segment 508. The first channel segment504 has a first bandwidth and comprises a first number of componentchannels, and the second channel segment 508 has a second bandwidth andcomprises a second number of component channels. In various embodiments,the first bandwidth of the first channel segment 504 and the secondbandwidth of the second channel segment 508 are equal or are unequal. Invarious embodiments, the first number of component channels of the firstchannel segment 504 and the second number of composite channels of thesecond channel segment 508 are equal or are unequal.

In an embodiment, the first channel segment 504 and the second channelsegment 508 are non-adjacent in frequency. For example, a gap infrequency Δf exists between the first channel segment 504 and the secondfirst channel segment 508. In various embodiments, the gap is at least500 kHz, at least 1 MHz, at least 5 MHz, at least 20 MHz, etc. Inanother embodiment, the first channel segment 504 and the second channelsegment 508 are adjacent in frequency. In this embodiment, there is nofrequency gap between first channel segment 504 and the second channelsegment 508.

In an example embodiment, the first channel segment 504 has a bandwidthof 80 MHz and the second channel segment 508 has a bandwidth of 80 MHz.In an embodiment in which the first channel segment 504 and the secondchannel segment 508 are not adjacent in frequency, the communicationchannel 500 is sometimes referred to as an 80+80 MHz channel. On theother hand, in an embodiment in which the first channel segment 504 andthe second channel segment 508 are adjacent in frequency, thecommunication channel 500 is sometimes referred to as 160 MHz channel.In general, communication channels similar to the communication channel500 in which the first channel segment and the second channel segmentare not adjacent in frequency, the aggregate communication channel isreferred to as (bandwidth of the first channel segment)+(bandwidth ofthe second channel segment) channel. On the other hand, communicationchannels similar to the communication channel 500 in which the firstchannel segment and the second channel segment are adjacent infrequency, or in which the second channel segment 508 is omitted (i.e.,the second channel segment 508 has a bandwidth of 0 MHz), thecommunication channel 500 is referred to as (the sum of the firstchannel segment bandwidth and the second channel segment bandwidth)channel. In an embodiment, valid channel configurations of thecommunication channel 500 include: 20 MHz channel, 40 MHz channel, 60MHz channel, 80 MHz channel, 100 MHz, 120 MHz channel, 140 MHz channel,channel 160 MHz channel, 20+40 MHz channel, 20+80 MHz channel, 40+80 MHzchannel, and so on. In an embodiment, a respective bandwidth of eachchannel segment 504, 508 is selected from a set of possible channelbandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz and 80 MHz. In other embodiments, othersuitable sets of possible bandwidths are utilized.

The communication channel 500 includes multiple primary channels, in theillustrated embodiment. For example, at least one component channel ofthe first channel segment 504 and at least one component channel of thesecond channel segment 508 is designated as a primary channel, in anembodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, a first component channel ofthe first channel segment 504 is designated as a first primary channel512 and a second component channel of the second channel segment 508 isdesignated as a second primary channel 516. In some embodiments, thecommunication channel 500 includes more than two primary channels. Forexample, more than two component channels of the communication channel500 are designated as primary channels, in some embodiments. In yetanother embodiment, the communication channel 500 includes only a singleprimary channel. For example, only a single component channel of one ofthe first channel segment 504 and the second channel segment 508 isdesignated as a primary channel, and the other one of the first channelsegment 504 and the second channel segment 508 does not include aprimary channel, in an embodiment.

The communication channel 500 also includes secondary channels, in anembodiment. In an embodiment, each component channel of the firstchannel segment 504 that is not designated as a primary channel isdesignated as a secondary channel. Similarly, each component channel ofthe second channel segment 504 that is not designated as a primarychannel is designated as a secondary channel, in an embodiment. In theillustrated embodiment, the first channel segment 504 includes threesecondary channels 514 and the second communication channel segment 508includes three secondary channels 520. In other embodiments, the firstchannel segment 504 and/or the second channel segment 508 includesanother suitable number (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.) of secondarychannels 514, 520. In some embodiments, the number of secondary channels514 of the first channel segment 504 is not equal to the number ofsecondary channels 520 of the second channel segment 508. Communicationdevices utilizes the one or more primary channels of the communicationchannel 500 for various operations, such as for transmission andreception of various management transmissions (e.g., transmissionsassociated with association of a client station 154 with the AP 114,beacon transmissions by the AP 114, operating channel bandwidths switchannouncement transmissions, etc.), for conducting clear channelassessment (CCA) procedures, etc., in various embodiments.

In an embodiment, communication devices (e.g., the AP 114, the clientstations 154) are configured to generate and transmit management framesto provide information indicating capabilities and operating parametersof the communication device to other communication devices and/or toexchange capability and operation information with another communicationdevice. For example, the AP 114 is configured to transmit beacon framesto announce capabilities of the AP 114 to communication devices that maybe seeking to associate with the AP 114, in an embodiment. As anotherexample, the AP 114 and a client station 154 are configured to exchangemanagement frames, such as probe request/probe response frames,association request/association response frames, re-associationrequest/re-association response frames, etc., to exchange capabilityparameters between the AP 114 and the client station 154. In currentWLANs, a communication device, such as an AP of a client station,operating in the WLAN typically transmits management frames in a singleprimary channel of an operating channel of the WLAN. In an embodiment inwhich the WLAN 110 operates with an operating channel, such as thecommunication channel 500, that includes multiple channel segments, acommunication device (e.g., the AP 114, a client station 154) isconfigured to transmit management frames in each of the multiple channelsegments, where a management frame transmitted in a particular channelsegment announces features supported by the communication device foroperation in the particular channel segment. Transmitting managementframes in each of the multiple channel segments allows othercommunication devices (e.g., other client stations 154) that areoperating in only a particular one of the channel segments to receivethe management frame in the particular one of the channel segments, inan embodiment.

In an embodiment, the AP 114 is configured to transmit respective beaconframes in respective ones of channel segments of a communicationchannel, wherein the respective beacon frames include informationdescribing capabilities of the AP 114 specific to the correspondingchannel segment. For example, the AP 114 is configured to transmitrespective beacon frames in respective primary channels of the multiplechannel segments, in an embodiment. In various embodiments, the AP 114transmits the respective beacon frames in respective ones the channelsegments simultaneously, or transmits the respective beacon frames inrespective ones the channel segments at different points in time. The AP114 generates a beacon frame for transmission in a particular channelsegment to include one or more information elements that indicateparameters supported by the AP 114 for operation in the particularchannel segment. In an embodiment, a beacon frame transmitted by acommunication device in a particular channel segment includes amulti-band operation capability indication to indicate that thecommunication device supports multi-band operation. Transmittingrespective beacon frames in respective ones of the channel segments toannounce capabilities of the AP 114 in the respective ones of thechannel segments allows communication devices that are configured foroperation with only a single channel segment (e.g., in only a singlefrequency band) to discover the AP 114 and to determine capabilities ofthe AP 114 based on the beacon frame received in a single channelsegment (e.g., a single frequency band), in an embodiment.

On the other hand, in a frame exchange between the AP 114 and a clientstation 154 that supports operation in multiple channel segments, amanagement frame transmitted by the AP 114 or the client station 154 ina particular channel segment announces capabilities of, respectively,the AP 114 and the client station 154, for operation in each one of themultiple channel segments. Thus, for example, probe request/proberesponse frames, association request/association response frames,re-association request/re-association response frames, etc. transmittedby the AP 114 or the client station 154 in a particular channel segmentannounce capabilities of, respectively, the AP 114 or the client station154 for operation in each one of the multiple channel segments, in anembodiment.

In an embodiment, the AP 114 is configured to announce parameters of itsoperating channel (e.g., channel bandwidth, channel configurationinformation such as whether the channel is contiguous or includeschannel segments that are not contiguous, one or more primary channels,etc.), to client stations 154 to enable the client stations 154 toassociate and establish communication with the AP 114 and tosubsequently operate in the BSS served by the AP 114, for example. TheAP 114 announces parameters of its operating channel by including one ormore operating information elements in one or more MAC data units (e.g.,beacon data units) transmitted by the AP 114. In an embodiment, the AP114 includes one or more operating information elements in a managementframe, such as a beacon frame, a probe response frame, an associationresponse frame, etc. that the AP 114 transmits in the WLN 110, where theone or operating information elements include information indicating theparameters of the operating channel. In an embodiment, the one or moreoperating information elements included in a management frame, such as abeacon frame, that the AP 114 broadcasts in a particular channel segmentinclude information describing the portion of the operating channel inthe particular channel segment. On the other hand, a probe responseframe, an association response frame, etc. that the AP 114 transmits toa particular communication device in a particular channel segment,includes information describing the operating channel in multiplechannel segments, in an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a portion of a management frame 600generated and transmitted by a communication device (e.g., the AP 114)in a particular channel segment to broadcast information in the WLAN110, according to an embodiment. The management frame 600 is a beaconframe broadcast by the AP 114 in a primary channel of the particularchannel segment, in an embodiment. The management frame 600 includes aplurality of capabilities information elements 602, including a highthroughput (HT) capabilities information element 602-1, a very highthroughput (VHT) capabilities information element 602-2, a highefficiency (HE) capabilities information element 602-3, and an extremelyhigh throughput (EHT) capabilities information element 602-4. Thecapabilities information elements 602 include information indicatingvarious features supported by the communication device, such encodingtechniques (e.g., LDPC encoding), MCSs, channel widths, etc., supportedby the communication device for operation in the particular channelsegment in which the management frame 600 is transmitted. In anembodiment, the management frame 600 includes an indication of whetherthe communication device supports multi-segment (e.g., multi-band)operation. For example, in an embodiment, the management frame 600includes an extended capabilities information element 602-5 which, inturn, includes a multi-segment (e.g., multi-band) support indication setto indicate whether the communication device supports multi-segment(e.g., multi-band) operation, in an embodiment. In an embodiment, if themulti-segment support indication is set to indicate that thecommunication device supports multi-segment operation, this signifiesthat the communication device supports operation in one or moreadditional channel segments (e.g., in one or more additional frequencybands) in addition to the channel segment (e.g., frequency band) inwhich the management frame 600 is transmitted. The management frame 600omits one or more of the capabilities information elements 602illustrated in FIG. 6 and/or includes one or more additional informationelements not illustrated in FIG. 6 , in some embodiments.

The management frame 600 additionally includes a plurality of operationsinformation elements 604, including an HT operations information element604-1, a VHT operations information element 604-2, an HE operationsinformation element 604-3, and an EHT operations information element604-4, in an embodiment. The operations information elements 604 includeinformation indicating parameters, such as channel bandwidth, channelcenter frequency, primary channel, etc. of the operating channel in thechannel segment in which the management frame 600 is transmitted, in anembodiment. In an embodiment, the management frame 600 includes anindication of whether the communication device is operating with amulti-segment (e.g., multi-band) operating channel. For example, in anembodiment, the EHT operations information element 604-4 includes amulti-segment (e.g., multi-band) channel indication set to indicatewhether the communication device is operating with a multi-segment(e.g., multi-band) operating channel, in an embodiment. In anembodiment, if the multi-segment channel indication is set to indicatethat the communication device is operating with a multi-segmentcommunication channel, this signifies that the operating channel of thecommunication device includes one or more additional channel segments(e.g., in one or more additional frequency bands) in addition to thechannel segment and/or frequency band in which the management frame 600is transmitted, in an embodiment. The management frame 600 omits one ormore of the capabilities information elements 602 illustrated in FIG. 6and/or includes one or more additional information elements notillustrated in FIG. 6 , in some embodiments.

Although the management frame 600 is illustrated in FIG. 6 as includingboth i) the capabilities information elements 602 and ii) the operationsinformation elements 604, the management frame 600 omits one of i) thecapabilities information elements 602 and ii) the operations informationelements 604, in some embodiments. For example, capabilities informationelements 602 and operations information elements 604 are transmitted bythe communication device in separate management frames, in someembodiments.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a portion of a management frame 700 generated andtransmitted by a communication device (e.g., the AP 114, the clientstation 154-1, etc.) in a particular channel segment to provideinformation to another communication device in the WLAN 110, accordingto an embodiment. In an embodiment, the management frame 700 is amanagement frame other than a beacon frame, such as a probe requestframe, probe response frame, association request frame, associationresponse frame, re-association request frame, re-association responseframe, etc. The management frame 700 includes a plurality ofcapabilities information elements 702, including an HT capabilitiesinformation element 702-1, a VHT capabilities information element 702-2,an HE capabilities information element 702-3, and an EHT capabilitiesinformation element 702-4, that are the same as or similar to thecorresponding capabilities information elements 602 of the managementframe 600 of FIG. 6 , in an embodiment. The management frame 700 alsoincludes a plurality of operations information elements 702, includingan HT operations information element 702-1, a VHT operations informationelement 702-2, an HE operations information element 702-3, and an EHTcapabilities information element 702-4, that are the same as or similarto the corresponding operations information elements 602 of themanagement frame 600 of FIG. 6 , in an embodiment.

Generally, the capabilities information elements 702 include informationindicating various features supported by the communication device foroperation in the channel segment in which the management frame 700 istransmitted, and the operations information elements 704 includeinformation indicating parameters of the operating channel in thechannel segment in which the management frame 700 is transmitted, in anembodiment. Although the management frame 700 is illustrated in FIG. 7as including both i) the capabilities information elements 602 and ii)the operations information elements 704, the management frame 700 omitsone of i) the capabilities information elements 702 and ii) theoperations information elements 704, in some embodiments. For example,capabilities information elements 702 and operations informationelements 704 are transmitted by the communication device in separatemanagement frames, in some embodiments.

Unlike the management frame 600 of FIG. 6 , the management frame 700additionally includes capabilities and/or operations informationcorresponding to one or more additional channel segments (e.g., in oneor more additional frequency bands) other than the particular channelsegment (e.g., the particular frequency band) in which the managementframe 700 is transmitted. For example, the management frame 700 includesone or more “other frequency band” information elements 712corresponding to one or more additional frequency bands in which thecommunication device is configured to operate, in addition to thefrequency band in which the management frame 700 is transmitted. The oneor more “other frequency band” information elements 712 includeadditional capabilities information describing features supported by thecommunication device for operation in the one or more additional channelsegments (e.g., in one or more additional frequency bands) and/oradditional operations information indicating parameters of the operatingchannel in one or more additional channel segments (e.g., one or moreadditional frequency bands) in which the management frame 700 istransmitted, in an embodiment, in an embodiment. Accordingly, in anembodiment, whereas the management frame 600 includes capabilitiesinformation indicating features supported by the communication deice foroperation in the frequency band in which the management frame 600 istransmitted, the management frame 700 includes information indicatingfeatures supported by the communication deice in each frequency bandsupported by the communication device. Similarly, in an embodiment,whereas the management frame 600 includes operations informationindicating parameters of the operating channel of the communicationdevice in the channel segment in which the management frame 600 istransmitted, the management frame 700 includes operations informationindicating parameters of the operating channel of the communicationdevice in each channel segment of the operating channel of thecommunication device.

In some embodiments, a communication device that supports operation inmultiple frequency bands has common capabilities for operation inrespective ones of the multiple frequency bands. For example, the IEEE802.11be Standard may specify that certain parameters supported bycommunication devices capable of operating across multiple frequencybands must be common among the multiple frequency bands. As an example,in an embodiment, a communication device that is configured to operateaccording to the IEEE 802.11be Standard and that supports operation inmultiple frequency bands, one or more of i) HT capabilities, ii) VHTcapabilities, and iii) HE capabilities of the communication device arethe same in the multiple frequency bands, with the exception ofdifferent bandwidths being supported by the communication device foroperation in the multiple frequency bands. In an embodiment, in eachbandwidth supported by the communication device in the frequency bands,the supported MCS and Nss set supported for EHT operation includes atleast the MCS and Nss set supported by the communication device in thecorresponding bandwidth for HE operation.

In some embodiments, a communication device that supports operation inmultiple frequency bands supports has common capabilities for operationin respective ones of the multiple frequency bands. For example, theIEEE 802.11be Standard may specify that certain parameters supported bycommunication devices capable of operating across multiple frequencybands must be common among the multiple frequency bands. As an example,in an embodiment, a communication device that is configured to operateaccording to the IEEE 802.11be Standard and that supports operation inmultiple frequency bands, one or more of i) HT capabilities, ii) VHTcapabilities, and iii) HE capabilities of the communication device arethe same in the multiple frequency bands, with the exception ofdifferent bandwidths being supported by the communication device foroperation in the multiple frequency bands. In an embodiment, in eachbandwidth supported by the communication device in the frequency bands,the supported MCS and Nss set supported for EHT operation includes atleast the MCS and Nss set supported by the communication device in thecorresponding bandwidth for HE operation.

In an embodiment, a communication device (e.g., the AP 114, the clientstation 154-1) generates and transmits a MAC data unit, such as anoperating mode notification frame, that includes information indicatinga change of, or an update to, a parameter of the operating channel ofthe communication device. For example, the communication devicegenerates transmits a MAC data to update a bandwidth of one or more ofmultiple channel segments of the operating channel. In an embodiment,the bandwidths of the multiple channel segments are updatedindependently. For example, the communication device updates a bandwidthof a first channel segment (e.g., the channel segment 504 in FIG. 5 ) tochange the bandwidth of the first channel segment (e.g., from 80 MHz to40 MHz), without updating the bandwidth of a second channel segment(e.g., the channel segment 508 in FIG. 5 ) or independently updating thebandwidth of the second channel segment (e.g., from 80 MHz to 20 MHz),in an embodiment.

In some situations, a communication device (e.g., the AP114, the clientstation 154-1) operating in the WLAN 110 updates one or more parametersof an operating channel of the communication device during operation ofthe communication device in the WLAN 110. For example, the communicationdevice updates parameters of the operating channel to reduce or increasethe bandwidth of the operating channel according to channel capacityneeds of the communication device and/or to conserve power, in anembodiment. As another example, the communication device switches itsoperating channel to another location, the other location having betterchannel characteristics, to improve performance, in an embodiment. Insuch situations, the communication signals new parameters of theoperating channel, in an embodiment. In an embodiment, to signal newparameters of the operating channel, the communication device generatesand transmits a MAC data unit, such as an operating mode notificationframe, that includes information indicating a change of, or an updateto, a parameter of the operating channel of the communication device.For example, the communication device generates transmits a MAC data toupdate a bandwidth of one or more of multiple channel segments of theoperating channel. In an embodiment, the bandwidths of the multiplechannel segments are updated independently. For example, thecommunication device updates a bandwidth of a first channel segment(e.g., the channel segment 504 in FIG. 5 ) to change the bandwidth ofthe first channel segment (e.g., from 80 MHz to 40 MHz), withoutupdating the bandwidth of a second channel segment (e.g., the channelsegment 508 in FIG. 5 ) or independently updating the bandwidth of thesecond channel segment (e.g., from 80 MHz to 20 MHz), in an embodiment.

In an embodiment, communication devices (e.g., the AP 114 and clientstations 154) in the WLAN 110 perform various frame exchanges fornegotiating parameters to be used for communication in a multi-channelsegment communication channel such as the communication channel 500. Inan embodiment, in some scenarios, a first communication device (e.g.,the AP 114) and a second communication device (e.g., the client station154-1) in the WLAN 110 perform a single negotiation frame exchange tonegotiate one or more parameters for communication in a communicationchannel between the AP 114 and the client station 154-1, where thenegotiated parameters apply for communication in multiple channelsegments of the communication channel. For example, the AP 114 and theclient station 154-1 perform a single acknowledgement parameternegotiation frame exchange (e.g., a single ADDBA frame exchange), wherethe negotiated ADDBA parameters apply for communication in multiplechannel segments of the communication channel, in an embodiment. On theother hand, in other scenarios, the AP114 and the client station 154-1perform separate negotiation frame exchanges to negotiate respectiveparameters for communication in multiple channel segments of thecommunication channel, in an embodiment. For example, the AP 114 and theclient station 154-1 perform respective target wake time (TWT)negotiation frame exchanges in respective ones of multiple channelsegments to negotiate respective TWT parameters for communication inmultiple channel segments of the communication channel, in anembodiment.

In some embodiments, the AP 114 implements multiple virtual APs forcommunication in a multi-channel segment communication channel such asthe communication channel 500. In an embodiment, the AP 114 providesinformation, such as BSSIDs, associated with the multiple virtual APs toother communication devices in the WLAN 110 by including a multipleBSSID information element in a management frame, such as a beacon frame,a probe response frame, an association response frame, a re-associationresponse frame, etc., transmitted by the AP 114. In an embodiment, theAP 114 implements different virtual APs for communication in differentchannel segments of the communication channel. In an embodiment, the AP114 provides information, such as BSSIDs, associated with the multiplevirtual APs to other communication devices in the WLAN 110 bytransmitting respective multiple BSSID information elementscorresponding to respective ones of the multiple channel segments. TheAP 114 includes the respective multiple BSSID information elements inrespective management frames (e.g., respective beacon frames) that theAP 114 transmits in respective ones of the multiple channel segments, orincludes the respective multiple BSSID information elements in a singlemanagement frame (e.g., a probe response frame, an association responseframe, a re-association response frame, etc.) that the AP 114 transmitsin a particular one of the multiple channel segments, in variousembodiments.

In an embodiment, the AP 114 periodically transmits traffic informationto the client stations 154 to inform the client stations 154 when the AP114 has data streams for transmission to the client stations 154. Forexample, the AP 114 includes a traffic indication map (TIM) element inmanagement frames, such as a beacon frame, a probe response frame, anassociation response frame, a re-association response frame, etc.,transmitted by the AP 114 to inform the client stations 154vwhen the AP114 has data streams for transmission to the client stations 154. In anembodiment, when particular data streams are serviced in a particularchannel segment of a communication channel, the AP 114 transmits a TIMelement that includes information, such as a delivery traffic indicationmap (DTIM) period, bitmap control, partial virtual bitmap, etc., that isspecific to the particular channel segment of the communication channel.On the other hand, when particular data streams are serviced acrossmultiple channel segments of a communication channel, the AP 114transmits a TIM element that includes information, such as a deliverytraffic indication map (DTIM) period, bitmap control, partial virtualbitmap, etc., that applies across the multiple channel segments of thecommunication channel, in an embodiment.

In an embodiment, communication devices (e.g., the AP 114 and clientstations 154) in the WLAN 110 contend for a wireless communicationmedium using clear channel assessment (CCA) procedures, such as carriersense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) procedures orother suitable channel assessment procedures. The CCA procedures includea virtual carrier sensing procedure, in an embodiment. The CCAprocedures also include physical carrier sensing and energy detectionprocedures, in an embodiment. To implement the virtual carrier sensingprocedure, the communication devices maintain respective networkallocation vectors (NAVs) that include timers for tracking when anothercommunication device has seized control or “ownership” of the wirelesscommunication medium. For example, when a communication device (e.g.,the AP 114 or a client station 154) receives a valid signal, such as aPHY data unit that conforms to a particular communication protocol(e.g., the IEEE 802.11be or another suitable communication protocol),the communication device examines duration information included in aheader and/or a preamble of the PHY data unit, where the durationinformation indicates a length of time that another communication devicehas taken ownership of a communication medium. The communication devicethen uses the duration information in the PHY data unit to set a NAVtimer, and the NAV timer begins to decrement. When a value of the NAVtimer is non-zero, this indicates that another communication device ownsthe wireless communication medium and that the communication devicetherefore should generally refrain from transmitting in the wirelesscommunication medium. On the other hand, when the value of the NAV timerreaches zero, this indicates that the wireless communication medium isnot currently owned by another communication device.

In an embodiment, when the NAV is zero, the communication deviceimplements the physical carrier sensing and energy detection procedures.To implement the physical carrier sensing and energy detectionprocedure, the communication device senses a signal level and an energylevel in the wireless communication medium for a predetermined length oftime, such as a length of time corresponding to a distributedcoordination function (DCF) interframe space (DIFS) time period oranother suitable time period, in an embodiment. In some embodiments, thepredetermined length of time depends on an access category (AC)associated with data that the communication device is attempting totransmit. For example, in an embodiment, an arbitration interframe space(AIFS) is utilized, wherein the value of the AIFS depends on the ACassociated with data that the communication device is attempting totransmit. Physical carrier sensing involves valid signal detection(e.g., a transmitted PHY data unit such as the PPDU 200) in the wirelesscommunication medium, in an embodiment, and the physical carrier sensingprocedure is sometimes referred to herein as a “signal detection”procedure. In an embodiment, if the communication detects a valid signalin the wireless communication medium, the communication device decodes aduration indication in the signal and determines that the medium is busyfor the duration indicated in a header and/or a preamble of the signal.In energy detection, the communication device does not detect a validsignal, but if the communication device detects an energy level that isabove an energy detection threshold value, the communication devicedetermines that the medium is busy for the duration of time for whichthe energy remains above the threshold.

In an embodiment, if, during the predetermined length of time, no validsignal is detected in the wireless communication medium and the detectedenergy in the wireless communication medium remains below an energydetection threshold, then the communication device invokes a backoffprocedure in which the communication device continues to perform signaldetection and energy detection in the wireless communication medium, todetermine whether the wireless communication medium is busy or idle, foran additional deferral time period. In an embodiment, the backoffprocedure includes randomly or pseudorandomly choosing an initial valuefor the backoff timer when the current value of the backoff timer iszero. In an embodiment, the communication device chooses the initialvalue for the backoff timer from a range of initial values [0, CW],where CW is a contention window parameter, where the initial value andCW are in units of slots, and where each slot corresponds to a suitabletime period. For example, the IEEE 802.11 Standard defines slot times of20 microseconds (IEEE 802.11b) and 9 microseconds (IEEE 802.11a, 11n,and 11ac), where different slot times are used for different versions ofthe protocol. In an embodiment, CW is initially set to a minimum valueCWmin. However, after each failed transmission attempt (e.g., failure toreceive an acknowledgment of the transmission), the value of CW isapproximately doubled with an upper bound of CWmax, in an embodiment.The parameters CWmin and CWmax are also in units of slots.

In an embodiment, while the communication device determines that thewireless communication medium is idle, the communication devicedecrements the backoff timer. When the communication device determinesthat the wireless communication medium is busy, the communication devicepauses the backoff timer and does not resume decrementing the backofftimer until the wireless communication medium is subsequently determinedto be idle. For example, when the communication device detects a validsignal and decodes a duration field in the valid signal, thecommunication device pauses the backoff timer for a length of timecorresponding to the duration indicated in the duration field of thevalid signal, in an embodiment. As another example, when thecommunication device detects an energy level that is above the energydetection threshold, the communication device pauses the backoff timeswhile the energy level remains above the energy detection thresholdlevel, in an embodiment. When the communication device determines thatthe wireless communication medium is idle, the communication deviceresumes counting down the backoff counter. Setting the backoff timer toan initial value chosen randomly or pseudo-randomly (e.g., as describedabove) ensures that backoff timers of different communication devices inthe network tend to reach zero at different times, in at least someembodiments. In an embodiment, when the backoff timer reaches zero, thecommunication device determines that the communication device is free totransmit.

In an embodiment, a communication device (e.g., the AP 114 or the clientstation 154-1) maintains multiple NAV timers corresponding to multipleprimary channels of its operating channel. For example, with referenceto FIG. 5 , the communication device maintains a first NAV timercorresponding to the first primary channel 512 of the communicationchannel 500 of and maintains a second NAV timer corresponding to thesecond primary channel 516 of the communication channel 500, in anembodiment. The communication device maintains each NAV timerindependently of any other NAV timer of the multiple NAV timersmaintained by the communication device, in an embodiment. Thecommunication device independently counts down each NAV timer of themultiple NAV timers, in an embodiment.

When the value of at least one NAV timer of the one or more NAV timersmaintained by the communication device reaches zero, the communicationdevice determines that at least a portion of its operating channel isnow idle according to the virtual carrier sense procedure, in anembodiment. The communication device then attempts to access at leastthe portion of the operating channel that is determined by the virtualcarrier sense procedure to be idle, in an embodiment. For example, thecommunication device performs a physical carrier sense procedure todetermine whether the communication device is able to transmit in atleast the portion of the operating channel, in an embodiment. In anembodiment, the physical carrier sense procedure includes invoking abackoff procedure as described above. In an embodiment, thecommunication device is configured to utilize different channel accessparameters for performing physical carrier sense procedures in differentchannel segments. For example, the communication device is configured toutilize different channel access parameter sets, such as differentenhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter sets for performingphysical carrier sense procedure in different channel segments. Thedifferent channel access parameter sets define different values for oneor more of CWmin, CWmax, AIFS, etc., to be used for physical carriersense procedures in different channel segments.

In an embodiment, when a backoff counter associated with a primarychannel of one of the channel segments reaches zero, the communicationdevice determines that at least the primary channel of the one of thechannel segments is available for transmission by the communicationdevice. Additionally, the communication device checks whether one ormore other component channels are also available for transmission by thecommunication device along with the primary channel of the one or thechannel segments, in an embodiment. Determining whether a secondarychannel is also available for transmission by the communication deviceinvolves sensing the secondary channel a predetermined time interval,such as point coordination function (PCF) interframe space (PIFS) timeperiod or another suitable time period. On the other hand, determiningwhether another primary channel of another one of the channel segmentsis also available for transmission by the communication device is alsoavailable for transmission by the communication device involves checkinga NAV timer associated with the other primary channel and, if the NAVtimer is zero, performing physical carrier sensing in the other primarychannel, in an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example network interface device 800configured for multi-channel segment operation, according to anembodiment. In an embodiment, the network interface device 800corresponds to the network interface device 122 of the AP 114 of FIG. 1. In another embodiment, the network interface device 800 corresponds tothe network interface device 162 of the client station 154-1 of FIG. 1 .

The network interface device 800 is configured for operation over twochannel segments, in the illustrated embodiment. The network interfacedevice 800 includes a MAC processor 808 coupled to a PHY processor 816.The MAC processor 808 exchanges frames (or PSDUs) with the PHY processor816.

In an embodiment, the MAC processor 808 corresponds to the MAC processor126 of FIG. 1 . In another embodiment, the MAC processor 808 correspondsto the MAC processor 166 of FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, the PHY processor816 corresponds to the PHY processor 130 of FIG. 1 . In anotherembodiment, the PHY processor 816 corresponds to the PHY processor 170of FIG. 1 .

The PHY processor 816 includes a first baseband signal processor 820 acorresponding to a first channel segment and a second baseband signalprocessor 802 b corresponding to a second channel segment. The firstbaseband signal processor 820 a is coupled to a first RF radio (Radio-1)828 a and the second baseband signal processor 802 b is coupled to asecond RF radio (Radio-2) 828 b. In an embodiment, the RF radio 828 aand the RF radio 828 b correspond to the transceivers 134 of FIG. 1 . Inanother embodiment, the RF radio 828 a and the RF radio 828 b correspondto the transceivers 174 of FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, the RF radio 828 ais configured to operate on a first RF band, and the RF radio 828 b isconfigured to operate on a second RF band. In another embodiment, the RFradio 828 a and the RF radio 828 b are both configured to operate on thesame RF band.

In an embodiment, the MAC processor 808 generates data corresponding toMAC layer data units (e.g., frames) and provides the frames (or PSDUs)to the baseband signal processor 820. The baseband signal processor 820is configured to receive frames (or PSDUs) from the MAC processor 808and encapsulate the frames (or PSDUs) into respective packets andgenerate respective baseband signals corresponding to the respectivepackets.

Although the network interface 800 is illustrated in FIG. 8 including asingle MAC processor 808, the network interface device 800 includesmultiple MAC processors 808, with respective ones of the multiple MACprocessors 808 corresponding to respective ones of the channel segments,in some embodiments. The multiple MAC processors 808 are synchronized,in some embodiments. For example, the multiple MAC processors 808 aresynchronized so that respective ones of the multiple MAC processors 808provide respective MAC layer data units to the PHY processor 816 at asame time or during a same time interval, in an embodiment.

The baseband signal processor 820 a provides the respective basebandsignal generated by the baseband signal processor 820 a to the Radio-1828 a. The baseband signal processor 820 b provides the respectivebaseband signal generated by the baseband signal processor 820 b to theRadio-1 828 b. The Radio-1 828 a and Radio-2 828 b upconvert therespective baseband signals to generate respective RF signals fortransmission via the first channel segment and the second channelsegment, respectively. The Radio-1 828 a transmits a first RF signal viathe first channel segment and the Radio-2 828 b transmits a second RFsignal via the second channel segment.

The Radio-1 828 a and the Radio-2 828 b are also configured to receiverespective RF signals via the first channel segment and the secondchannel segment, respectively. The Radio-1 828 a and the Radio-2 828 bgenerate respective baseband signals corresponding to the respectivereceived signals. The generated respective baseband signals are providedto the respective baseband signal processors 820 a and 820 b. Therespective baseband signal processors 820 a and 820 b generaterespective PSDUs corresponding to the respective received signals andprovide the respective PSDUs to the MAC processor 808. The MAC processor808 processes the PSDUs received from the baseband signal processors 820a and 820 b, in an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an example method 900 for operation of afirst communication device in a communication channel between the firstcommunication device and one or more second communication devices,according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the AP 114 of FIG. 1 isconfigured to implement the method 900. The method 1100 is described,however, in the context of the AP 114 merely for explanatory purposesand, in other embodiments, the method 900 is implemented by anothersuitable device of the WLAN 110 of FIG. 1 or by a communication deviceoperating in a suitable network different from the WLAN 110 of FIG. 1 .

At block 902, a first data unit for transmission in a first channelsegment of the communication channel is generated by the AP 114. In anembodiment, the data unit 400 of FIG. 4 is generated. In anotherembodiment, a suitable data unit different from the data unit 400 ofFIG. 4 is generated. In an embodiment, the first data unit is generatedat block 902 to include a first MAC address of the AP 114. The first MACaddress is utilized by the AP 114 for operation in the first channelsegment of the communication channel. In an embodiment, the first dataunit is generated to include the first MAC address in a source MACaddress field of a MAC header of the first data unit. For example, in anembodiment in which the data unit 400 of FIG. 4 is generated, the firstMAC address is included in the MAC address 1 field 410-1 of the dataunit.

At block 904, a second data unit for transmission in a second channelsegment of the communication channel is generated by the AP 114. In anembodiment, the data unit 450 of FIG. 4 is generated. In anotherembodiment, a suitable data unit different from the data unit 450 ofFIG. 4 is generated. In an embodiment, the second data unit is generatedat block 904 to include a second MAC address of the AP 114. The secondMAC address is utilized by the AP 114 for operation in the secondchannel segment of the communication channel, in an embodiment. Thesecond MAC address of the AP 114 is different from the first MAC addressof the AP 114, in an embodiment. For example, the AP 114 is configuredto operate multiple MAC entities (e.g., multiple MAC processors)corresponding to multiple channel segments, where different ones of themultiple MAC entities are assigned different MAC addresses, in anembodiment. In this embodiment, the first data unit is generated atblock 902 by a first one of the multiple MAC entities to include thefirst MAC assigned to the first MAC entity, and the second data unit isgenerated at block 904 by a second one of the multiple MAC addresses toinclude the second MAC assigned to the second MAC entity.

In an embodiment, the second data unit is generated at block 904 toinclude the second MAC address in a source MAC address field of a MACheader of the second data unit. For example, in an embodiment in whichthe data unit 450 of FIG. 4 is generated, the second MAC address isincluded in the MAC address 1 field 460-1 of the data unit. Usingdifferent MAC addresses in different ones of the channel segments allowslegacy communication devices that do not support operation with multiplechannel segment aggregation to discover and associate with the AP 114 inany one of the first channel segment and the second channel segment, inan embodiment.

At block 906, the first data unit generated at block 902 and the seconddata unit generated at block 904 are transmitted by the AP 114. In anembodiment, the first data unit generated at block 902 is transmitted inthe first channel segment of the communication channel and the seconddata unit generated at block 904 is transmitted in the second channelsegment of the communication channel. In an embodiment, the firstchannel segment and the second channel segment are non-overlappingfrequency segments of the communication channel. For example, the firstdata unit generated at block 902 is transmitted in the first channelsegment 504 of the communication channel 500 of FIG. 5 and the seconddata unit generated at block 904 is transmitted in the second channelsegment 508 of the communication channel 500 of FIG. 5 , in anembodiment. In other embodiments, the first data unit and the seconddata unit are transmitted in channel segments of a communication channeldifferent from the communication channel 500 of FIG. 5 .

In an embodiment, a method for operation of a first communication devicein a communication channel between the first communication device andone or more second communication devices includes: generating, at anetwork interface of the first communication device, a first data unitfor transmission in a first channel segment of the communicationchannel, including generating the first data unit to include a firstmedium access control (MAC) address of the first communication device,the first MAC address utilized by the first communication device foroperation in the first channel segment of the communication channel;generating, at the network interface of the first communication device,a second data unit for transmission in a second channel segment of thecommunication channel, including generating the second data unit toinclude a second MAC address of the first communication device, thesecond MAC address utilized by the first communication device foroperation in the second channel segment of the communication channel,the second MAC address of the first communication device being differentfrom the first MAC address of the first communication device; andtransmitting, with the network interface device, the first data unit andthe second data unit to the one or more second communication devices,including transmitting the first data unit in the first channel segmentof the communication channel and transmitting the second data unit inthe second channel segment of the communication channel, the firstchannel segment and the second channel segment being non-overlappingfrequency segments of the communication channel.

In other embodiments, the method also includes one of, or any suitablecombination of two or more of, the following features.

Transmitting the first data unit in the first channel segment of thecommunication channel and transmitting the second data unit in thesecond channel segment of the communication channel comprisestransmitting the first data unit in a first frequency band andtransmitting the second data unit in a second frequency band, the firstfrequency band being separated by a frequency gap from the secondfrequency band.

Transmitting the first data unit in the first frequency band comprisestransmitting the first data unit in one of i) a 2.4 GHz frequency band,ii) a 5 GHz frequency band, iii) a 6 GHz frequency band, and iv) anotherfrequency band.

Transmitting the second data unit in the second frequency band comprisestransmitting the second data unit in a different one of i) the 2.4 GHzfrequency band, ii) the 5 GHz frequency band, iii) the 6 GHz frequencyband, iv) the other frequency band.

Generating the first data unit further includes generating the firstdata unit to include a first data stream i) for a particular secondcommunication device among the one or more second communication devicesand ii) associated with a particular traffic class.

Generating the second data unit further includes generating the seconddata unit to include a second data stream, different from the first datastream, the second data stream i) for the particular secondcommunication device among the one or more second communication devicesand ii) associated with the particular traffic class.

Generating the first data unit includes i) assigning a first sequencenumber to the first data unit, the first sequence number being assignedfrom a sequence number set associated with the particular secondcommunication device and the particular traffic class and ii) generatingthe first data unit to include the first sequence number.

Generating the second data unit includes i) assigning a second sequencenumber to the second data unit, the second sequence number being a nextsequential number in the sequence number set associated with theparticular second communication device and the particular traffic classand ii) generating the second data unit to include the second sequencenumber.

The method further comprises, prior to transmitting the first data unitin the first channel segment, performing, with the network interface ofthe first communication device, a first channel access procedure todetermine that the first channel segment is available for transmissionby the first communication device.

The method further comprises, prior to transmitting the second data unitin the second channel segment, performing, with the network interface ofthe first communication device, a second channel access procedure,independently from performing the first access procedure, to determinethat the second channel segment is available for transmission by thefirst communication device.

Performing the first channel access procedure comprises performing thefirst channel access procedure based on a first set of channel accessparameters utilized by the first communication device for channel accessin the first channel segment.

Performing the second channel access procedure comprises performing thesecond channel access procedure based on a second set of channel accessparameters, different from the first set of channel access parameters,utilized by the first communication device for channel access in thesecond channel segment.

The method further comprises, prior to transmitting the first data unitand the second data unit, receiving, at the network interface of thefirst communication device, one or more management frames from aparticular second communication device among the one or more secondcommunication devices, the one more management frames having beentransited by the particular second communication device in one of i) thefirst channel segment or ii) the second channel segment, wherein the oneor more management frames is for negotiating operation parameters to beused in communication between the first communication device and theparticular second communication device in both i) the first channelsegment and ii) the second channel segment.

Receiving the one or more management frames from the particular secondcommunication device comprises receiving a block acknowledgementnegotiation management frame for negotiating block acknowledgementparameters, wherein the block acknowledgement parameters are to be usedin communication between the first communication device and theparticular second communication device in both i) the first channelsegment and ii) the second channel segment.

The method further comprises, prior to transmitting the first data unitand the second data unit, transmitting, with the network interface ofthe first communication device, one or more management frames to aparticular second communication device among the one or more secondcommunication devices, the one or more management frames i) transmittedin one of a) the first channel segment or b) the second channel segmentand ii) including indications of features supported by the firstcommunication device for operation in both a) the first channel segmentor b) the second channel segment.

In another embodiment, a first communication device configured forcommunication with one or more second communication devices over acommunication channel comprises a network interface device having one ormore integrated circuit (IC) devices configured to: generate a firstdata unit for transmission in a first channel segment of thecommunication channel, including generating the first data unit toinclude a first medium access control (MAC) address of the firstcommunication device, the first MAC address utilized by the firstcommunication device for operation in the first channel segment of thecommunication channel; generate a second data unit for transmission in asecond channel segment of the communication channel, includinggenerating the second data unit to include a second MAC address of thefirst communication device, the second MAC address utilized by the firstcommunication device for operation in the second channel segment of thecommunication channel, the second MAC address of the first communicationdevice being different from the first MAC address of the firstcommunication device; and transmit the first data unit and the seconddata unit to the one or more second communication devices, includingtransmitting the first data unit in the first channel segment of thecommunication channel and transmitting the second data unit in thesecond channel segment of the communication channel, the first channelsegment and the second channel segment being non-overlapping frequencysegments of the communication channel.

In other embodiments, the first communication device also comprises oneof, or any suitable combination of two or more of, the followingfeatures.

The one or more IC devices are configured to transmit the first dataunit in a first frequency band and transmit the second data unit in asecond frequency band, the first frequency band being separated by afrequency gap from the second frequency band.

The one or more IC devices are configured to transmit the first dataunit in one of i) a 2.4 GHz frequency band, ii) a 5 GHz frequency band,iii) a 6 GHz frequency band, and iv) another frequency band.

The one or more IC devices are configured to transmit the second dataunit in another one of i) the 2.4 GHz frequency band, ii) the 5 GHzfrequency band, iii) the 6 GHz frequency band and iv) the otherfrequency band.

The one or more IC devices are configured to generate the first dataunit to further include a first data stream i) for a particular secondcommunication device among the one or more second communication devicesand ii) associated with a particular traffic class.

The one or more IC devices are configured to generate the second dataunit to further include a second data stream, different from the firstdata stream, the second data stream i) for the particular secondcommunication device among the one or more second communication devicesand ii) associated with the particular traffic class.

The one or more IC devices are configured to assign a first sequencenumber to the first data unit, the first sequence number being assignedfrom a sequence number set associated with the particular secondcommunication device and the particular traffic class, and generate thefirst data unit to further include the first sequence number,

The one or more IC devices are configured to assign a second sequencenumber to the second data unit, the second sequence number being a nextsequential number in the sequence number set associated with theparticular second communication device and the particular traffic classand generate the second data unit to further include the second sequencenumber.

The one or more IC devices are further configured to, prior totransmitting the first data unit in the first channel segment, perform afirst channel access procedure to determine that the first channelsegment is available for transmission by the first communication device.

The one or more IC devices are further configured to, prior totransmitting the second data unit in the second channel segment, performa second channel access procedure, independently from performing thefirst access procedure, to determine that the second channel segment isavailable for transmission by the first communication device.

The one or more IC devices are configured to perform the first channelaccess procedure based on a first set of channel access parametersutilized by the first communication device for channel access in thefirst channel segment.

The one or more IC devices are configured to perform the second channelaccess procedure based on a second set of channel access parameters,different from the first set of channel access parameters, utilized bythe first communication device for channel access in the second channelsegment.

The one or more IC devices are further configured to, prior totransmitting the first data unit and the second data unit, receive oneor more management frames from a particular second communication deviceamong the one or more second communication devices, the one moremanagement frames having been transited by the particular secondcommunication device in one of i) the first channel segment or ii) thesecond channel segment, wherein the one or more management frames is fornegotiating operation parameters to be used in communication between thefirst communication device and the particular second communicationdevice in both i) the first channel segment and ii) the second channelsegment.

The one or more IC devices are configured to receiving the one or moremanagement frames from the particular second communication device atleast by receiving a block acknowledgement negotiation management framefor negotiating block acknowledgement parameters, wherein the blockacknowledgement parameters are to be used in communication between thefirst communication device and the particular second communicationdevice in both i) the first channel segment and ii) the second channelsegment.

The one or more IC devices are further configured to prior totransmitting the first data unit and the second data unit, transmit oneor more management frames to a particular second communication deviceamong the one or more second communication devices, the one or moremanagement frames i) transmitted in one of a) the first channel segmentor b) the second channel segment and ii) including indications offeatures supported by the first communication device for operation inboth a) the first channel segment or b) the second channel segment.

At least some of the various blocks, operations, and techniquesdescribed above may be implemented utilizing hardware, a processorexecuting firmware instructions, a processor executing softwareinstructions, or any combination thereof. When implemented utilizing aprocessor executing software or firmware instructions, the software orfirmware instructions may be stored in any computer readable memory suchas on a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or other storage medium, in aRAM or ROM or flash memory, processor, hard disk drive, optical diskdrive, tape drive, etc. The software or firmware instructions mayinclude machine readable instructions that, when executed by one or moreprocessors, cause the one or more processors to perform various acts.

When implemented in hardware, the hardware may comprise one or more ofdiscrete components, an integrated circuit, an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), etc.

While the present invention has been described with reference tospecific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not tobe limiting of the invention, changes, additions and/or deletions may bemade to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operation in a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN), the method comprising: generating, at a wireless networkinterface of an access point, respective first data units fortransmission in respective primary channels of respective frequencysegments, each first data unit including a respective beacon framehaving an indication that the access point is operating in multiplefrequency segments, and each beacon frame including a respective MACaddress utilized by the access point for operation in the respectivefrequency segment; transmitting, by the wireless network interface, therespective first data units having the respective beacon frames in therespective primary channels of the respective frequency segments topermit client stations to discover the access point in any of therespective primary channels; and in response to receiving from a firstclient station a probe request frame in one of the frequency segments,transmitting, by the wireless network interface, a probe response framein the one frequency segment, the probe response frame including, foreach frequency segment, respective operation information indicatingrespective operation parameters for the respective frequency segment. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the respective first dataunits having the respective beacon frames in the respective primarychannels comprises transmitting one first data unit in a first frequencyband and transmitting another first data unit in a second frequencyband, the first frequency band being separated in frequency from thesecond frequency band by a frequency gap.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein: transmitting the one first data unit in the first frequencyband comprises transmitting the one first data unit in one of i) a 2.4GHz frequency band, ii) a 5 GHz frequency band, and iii) a 6 GHzfrequency band; and transmitting the other first data unit in the secondfrequency band comprises transmitting the other first data unit in adifferent one of i) the 2.4 GHz frequency band, ii) the 5 GHz frequencyband, and iii) the 6 GHz frequency band.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising: generating, at the wireless network interface, theprobe response frame to include, for each frequency segment, arespective indication of the respective primary channel in therespective frequency segment.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: generating, at the wireless network interface, the proberesponse frame to include, for each frequency segment, a respectiveindication of a respective operating channel bandwidth in the respectivefrequency segment.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:generating, at the wireless network interface, the probe response frameto include, for each frequency segment, a respective indication of therespective primary channel in the respective frequency segment.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: generating, at the wirelessnetwork interface, the probe response frame to include, for eachfrequency segment, a respective indication of a respective centerfrequency of the respective frequency segment.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising: generating, at the wireless network interface, theprobe response frame to include, for each frequency segment, arespective indication of whether a respective operating channel in therespective frequency segment is contiguous in frequency.
 9. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: receiving, at the network interface, oneor more management frames from the first client station, the one or moremanagement frames having been transited by the first client station inone of the frequency segments, wherein the one or more management framesis for negotiating operation parameters to be used in communicationbetween the access point and the first client station in multiple onesof the frequency segments.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein receivingthe one or more management frames from the first client stationcomprises receiving a block acknowledgement negotiation management framefor negotiating block acknowledgement parameters, wherein the blockacknowledgement parameters are to be used in communication between theaccess point and the first client station in the multiple ones of thefrequency segments.
 11. A communication device, comprising: a wirelessnetwork interface device corresponding to an access point, the wirelessnetwork device having one or more integrated circuit (IC) devicesconfigured to: generate respective first data units for transmission inrespective primary channels of respective frequency segments, each firstdata unit including a respective beacon frame having an indication thatthe access point is operating in multiple frequency segments, and eachbeacon frame including a respective MAC address utilized by the accesspoint for operation in the respective frequency segment, control thewireless network interface to transmit the respective first data unitshaving the respective beacon frames in the respective primary channelsof the respective frequency segments to permit client stations todiscover the access point in any of the respective primary channels, andcontrol the wireless network interface to transmit, in response to thewireless network device receiving from a first client station a proberequest frame in one of the frequency segments, a probe response framein the one frequency segment, the probe response frame including, foreach frequency segment, respective operation information indicatingrespective operation parameters for the respective frequency segment.12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the one or more ICdevices are further configured to control the wireless network interfaceto transmit one first data unit in a first frequency band and transmitanother first data unit in a second frequency band, the first frequencyband being separated in frequency from the second frequency band by afrequency gap.
 13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the oneor more IC devices are further configured to control the wirelessnetwork interface to: transmit the one first data unit in one of i) a2.4 GHz frequency band, ii) a 5 GHz frequency band, and iii) a 6 GHzfrequency band; and transmit the other first data unit in the secondfrequency band comprises transmitting the other first data unit in adifferent one of i) the 2.4 GHz frequency band, ii) the 5 GHz frequencyband, and iii) the 6 GHz frequency band.
 14. The communication device ofclaim 11, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:generate the probe response frame to include, for each frequencysegment, a respective indication of the respective primary channel inthe respective frequency segment.
 15. The communication device of claim11, wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to:generate the probe response frame to include, for each frequencysegment, a respective indication of a respective operating channelbandwidth in the respective frequency segment.
 16. The communicationdevice of claim 11, wherein the one or more IC devices are furtherconfigured to: generate the probe response frame to include, for eachfrequency segment, a respective indication of the respective primarychannel in the respective frequency segment.
 17. The communicationdevice of claim 11, wherein the one or more IC devices are furtherconfigured to: generate the probe response frame to include, for eachfrequency segment, a respective indication of a respective centerfrequency of the respective frequency segment.
 18. The communicationdevice of claim 11, wherein the one or more IC devices are furtherconfigured to: generate the probe response frame to include, for eachfrequency segment, a respective indication of whether a respectiveoperating channel in the respective frequency segment is contiguous infrequency.
 19. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the one ormore IC devices are further configured to: receive one or moremanagement frames from the first client station, the one or moremanagement frames having been transited by the first client station inone of the frequency segments, wherein the one or more management framesis for negotiating operation parameters to be used in communicationbetween the access point and the first client station in multiple onesof the frequency segments.
 20. The communication device of claim 19,wherein the one or more IC devices are further configured to receive, asone of the one or more management frames, a block acknowledgementnegotiation management frame for negotiating block acknowledgementparameters, wherein the block acknowledgement parameters are to be usedin communication between the access point and the first client stationin the multiple ones of the frequency segments.
 21. The communicationdevice of claim 11, wherein the wireless network interface comprises:one or more transceivers implemented using the one or more IC devices.22. The communication device of claim 21, further comprising: one ormore antennas coupled to the one or more transceivers.